Phrase in 30 Seconds
A vital social tool used to protect someone's reputation and dignity during a potentially embarrassing or difficult situation.
- Means: Acting specifically to ensure another person doesn't look bad or lose respect.
- Used in: Business meetings, family gatherings, and when correcting a superior's mistake.
- Don't confuse: With 'making a face' (facial expressions) or literally standing someone up.
适合你水平的解释：
意思
To act in a way that preserves someone's reputation or honor.
文化背景
The concept of 'Mentsu' is so strong that people may even lie or hide the truth to save someone's face. This is not seen as 'dishonesty' but as 'kindness' and 'social wisdom.' Face (Miànzi) is a form of social currency. You can 'give face,' 'lose face,' or even 'borrow face' to get things done. It is the foundation of 'Guanxi' (relationships). While 'saving face' is understood, American culture often values 'transparency' and 'directness.' Correcting someone publicly is sometimes seen as 'being honest' rather than 'destroying face.' Honor is a collective trait. Saving the face of a family patriarch is essential, as his 'face' represents the entire family's standing in the community.
The 'Third Party' Rule
This phrase is most powerful when used to describe your actions regarding a third party. It shows you are socially aware.
Don't Overuse
If you use it for every small favor, it loses its weight. Save it for situations involving hierarchy or public reputation.
The 'Third Party' Rule
This phrase is most powerful when used to describe your actions regarding a third party. It shows you are socially aware.
Don't Overuse
If you use it for every small favor, it loses its weight. Save it for situations involving hierarchy or public reputation.
自我测试
Choose the most appropriate situation to use '{顔|かお}を{立|た}てる'.
Which of these is an example of '{顔|かお}を{立|た}てる'?
Saving face involves protecting someone's reputation, especially in a hierarchy.
Fill in the missing particle and verb form.
{部長|ぶちょう}（ ）{顔|かお}を（ ）ために、{私|わたし}は{黙|だま}っていました。
The pattern is [Person] + の + 顔を立てる.
Complete the dialogue.
A: {田中|たなか}さんがミスをしたけど、みんなの{前|まえ}で{言|い}わないほうがいいかな？ B: うん、（ ）。
Saving his face by not mentioning the mistake in public.
Match the phrase to the cultural concept.
Match '{顔|かお}を{立|た}てる' with its core cultural value.
Saving face is primarily about maintaining social harmony.
🎉 得分： /4
视觉学习工具
练习题库
5 练习Which of these is an example of '{顔|かお}を{立|た}てる'?
Saving face involves protecting someone's reputation, especially in a hierarchy.
{部長|ぶちょう}（ ）{顔|かお}を（ ）ために、{私|わたし}は{黙|だま}っていました。
The pattern is [Person] + の + 顔を立てる.
A: {田中|たなか}さんがミスをしたけど、みんなの{前|まえ}で{言|い}わないほうがいいかな？ B: うん、（ ）。
Saving his face by not mentioning the mistake in public.
Match '{顔|かお}を{立|た}てる' with its core cultural value.
Saving face is primarily about maintaining social harmony.
🎉 得分： /5
常见问题
2 个问题Yes, but it's less common. Usually, it's used for people 'above' you or equals in a public setting.
No. You might apologize *to* save someone's face, but the phrase describes the *goal* of the action, not the action itself.
相关表达
{顔|かお}がつぶれる
contrastTo lose face / to be disgraced.
{顔|かお}に{泥|どろ}を{塗|ぬ}る
similarTo humiliate someone.
{面目|めんぼく}を{保|たも}つ
synonymTo maintain one's honor.
{花|はな}を{持|も}たせる
similarTo give someone the credit.
在哪里用
Correcting a Boss's Mistake
Boss: この{会議|かいぎ}は{明日|あした}の10{時|じ}からですね。
You: {部長|ぶちょう}の{顔|かお}を{立|た}てて、あとでこっそり「11{時|じ}でした」と{伝|つた}えた。
Family Gathering
Uncle: {最近|さいきん}の{若|わか}い{者|もの}は{苦労|くろう}を{知|し}らんな。
You: {叔父|おじ}さんの{顔|かお}を{立|た}てて、「そうですね」と{笑|わら}って{答|こた}えた。
Business Negotiation
Client: この{条件|じょうけん}では{厳|きび}しいです。
You: {相手|あいて}の{顔|かお}を{立|た}てるために、{少|すこ}しだけ{値引|ねび}きを{提案|ていあん}した。
Wedding Speech
Friend: {彼|かれ}の{失敗|しっぱい}の{話|はなし}をしてもいいかな？
You: {今日|きょう}は{彼|かれ}の{顔|かお}を{立|た}てて、いい{話|はなし}だけにしておけよ。
Group Project
Leader: {私|わたし}がこのパートを{作|つく}りました！（{実|じつ}はミスだらけ）
You: {彼|かれ}の{顔|かお}を{立|た}てて、みんなで{静|しず}かに{修正|しゅうせい}した。
Introducing a Mentor
You: {先生|せんせい}の{顔|かお}を{立|た}てるために、{一番|いちばん}いい{席|せき}を{用意|ようい}しました。
Mentor: ありがとう、{気|き}を{使|つか}わせてしまったね。
记住它
记忆技巧
Imagine a friend's 'face' is a picture frame falling over. You reach out to 'stand it up' ({立|た}てる) so it doesn't break on the floor of shame.
视觉联想
A person holding up a large, smiling mask for someone else who is hiding behind it. You are the one holding the mask up so the world only sees the 'good' face.
Story
Once, a young employee noticed his boss forgot the client's name. Instead of correcting him, the employee said, 'As you mentioned earlier, Boss, Mr. Tanaka here has a great proposal.' By using the name, he saved the boss's face. The boss was grateful, and the employee was known as someone who can '{顔|かお}を{立|た}てる'.
In Other Languages
In Chinese, '给面子' (gěi miànzi) is almost identical. In English, 'to save face' is the direct equivalent, though the Japanese usage is more frequent in daily professional life.
Word Web
挑战
Think of a time you corrected someone in public. How could you have '{顔|かお}を{立|た}てる' instead? Write one sentence in Japanese describing that alternative action.
Review this phrase before any formal meeting or social gathering where you'll be interacting with people of different social statuses.
发音
Two flat moras. Don't stress either syllable.
The 'te' is a mid-tone.
正式程度
{部長|ぶちょう}の{顔|かお}を{立|た}てる{所存|しょぞん}でございます。 (Workplace decision)
{部長|ぶちょう}の{顔|かお}を{立|た}てることにします。 (Workplace decision)
{部長|ぶちょう}の{顔|かお}を{立|た}てとくよ。 (Workplace decision)
{部長|ぶちょう}のメンツ、{立|た}ててやんよ。 (Workplace decision)
The phrase dates back to the Edo period. 'Kao' (face) was seen as the 'kanban' (signboard) of a person. If the signboard falls, the shop looks bad. '{立|た}てる' means to set something upright so it can be seen clearly and with pride.
趣味小知识
In ancient Japan, if a samurai 'lost face' completely, the only way to 'restore' it was often through ritual suicide (seppuku). Today, thankfully, we just use polite words!
文化笔记
The concept of 'Mentsu' is so strong that people may even lie or hide the truth to save someone's face. This is not seen as 'dishonesty' but as 'kindness' and 'social wisdom.'
“A company covering for a retired CEO's past error.”
Face (Miànzi) is a form of social currency. You can 'give face,' 'lose face,' or even 'borrow face' to get things done. It is the foundation of 'Guanxi' (relationships).
“Hosting an expensive dinner to 'give face' to a guest.”
While 'saving face' is understood, American culture often values 'transparency' and 'directness.' Correcting someone publicly is sometimes seen as 'being honest' rather than 'destroying face.'
“A whistleblower being praised for exposing a superior's mistake.”
Honor is a collective trait. Saving the face of a family patriarch is essential, as his 'face' represents the entire family's standing in the community.
“Publicly deferring to the eldest male in all decisions.”
对话开场白
{仕事|しごと}で、{誰|だれ}かの{顔|かお}を{立|た}てたことがありますか？
{日本|にっぽん}の「{顔|かお}を{立|た}てる」{文化|ぶんか}について、どう{思|おも}いますか？
常见错误
{私|わたし}の{顔|かお}を{立|た}ててください。
{私|わたし}の{面目|めんぼく}を{保|たも}たせてください。 (or similar)
L1 Interference
{顔|かお}を{立|た}ちました。
{顔|かお}を{立|た}てました。
{顔|かお}を{立|た}てて、{化粧|けしょう}をしました。
None (this is a literal confusion).
{彼|かれ}の{顔|かお}を{立|た}てて、{道|みち}を{教|おし}えました。
{彼|かれ}に{親切|しんせつ}にしました。
In Other Languages
To save face
Japanese uses the verb 'to stand up' ({立|た}てる) instead of 'to save'.
给面子 (Gěi miànzi)
Chinese uses 'give' ({給|gěi}), emphasizing the face as a gift.
체면을 세워주다 (Chemyeon-eul se-uda)
Uses the word 'honor/reputation' (체면) instead of 'face' (顔).
Salvar la cara
Often carries a slightly more negative or self-serving connotation.
Sauver la face
Less common in everyday casual conversation than the Japanese equivalent.
Das Gesicht wahren
The verb 'wahren' (to preserve/guard) is very formal.
حفظ ماء الوجه (Hifz ma' al-wajh)
Adds the poetic element of 'water' to the metaphor.
Manter as aparências
Focuses on 'appearances' rather than the 'face' of a specific person.
Spotted in the Real World
“{部長|ぶちょう}の{顔|かお}を{立|た}てるのも、{部下|ぶか}の{仕事|しごと}だ。”
Discussing how to handle a manager's mistake in a high-stakes banking environment.
“{親|おや}の{顔|かお}を{立|た}ててやりなさい。”
A scene about family pride and the roles children play.
容易混淆
Learners think it means 'making a face' in a social sense.
This refers to facial expressions or putting on makeup, not social honor.
Both start with 'Kao o...'
{顔|かお}を{出|だ}す means 'to show up' or 'to drop by' a place.
常见问题 (2)
Yes, but it's less common. Usually, it's used for people 'above' you or equals in a public setting.
usage contextsNo. You might apologize *to* save someone's face, but the phrase describes the *goal* of the action, not the action itself.
basic understanding
